Language the next hurdle Moreno plans to leap
Back in the team and sharing Jürgen Klopp's passion for the game, now Alberto Moreno is setting his sights on improving his language skills to cement a place in the Liverpool side.
The Spaniard started each of the new manager’s first three matches at the helm before remaining on the bench during Wednesday’s Capital One Cup victory over Bournemouth at Anfield.
His recent run of appearances, which began in Bordeaux last month, goes some way to explaining the No.18’s chipper mood as he turns focus to Saturday’s clash with Chelsea.
Klopp’s approach is helping too, according to the defender – so much so that he’s increased his English homework with a view to gleaning even more from the boss.
Moreno said: “I get the impression he really feels the game, he really feels his football and has a huge passion for the game. I do [too].
“He wants you to express yourself on the field and what he really wants you to do is not just offer 100 per cent on the field, but double that. I think that fits in with me.
“I do feel that he trusts me. I think he trusts me a lot – he speaks to me a lot and spends a lot of time with me.
“He really wants me to learn English as quickly as possible as well so he can get over everything he wants to say to me. The fact he spends a lot of time with me has helped me show good performances on the field.
“He said it’s a fresh start. He spoke to all of the players and the first thing he said to us was that he’s going to judge things on what he sees and feels, and everybody starts from zero. We’re all starting from now.”
Moreno will certainly have made an early impression on the manager having turned in a series of displays showing his natural attacking flair but also an increasingly dependable defensive acumen.
None more so than in the second half of last weekend’s home draw with Southampton when he recovered superbly to catch up with a free Sadio Mane and prevent a clear chance with a perfect sliding tackle.
“I love it when something like that happens, it’s absolutely great, when the fans get behind you and congratulate you for a good piece of play,” he said.
“That’s why you go out on the field – to perform well and do things well for the fans. I go out to defend well and put in challenges like that; my first job is to defend and this year I’d like to think I’m much better defensively.
“That is primarily what I’m in the team for, but obviously I still have the desire to go forward and support the attack when I get the right chance.”